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CHAP. 18.—THE NATURE OF THE SAD THROWN BY TREES.

The shadows of trees are possessed of certain properties.
That of the walnut is baneful1 and injurious to man, in whom
it is productive of head-ache, and it is equally noxious to
everything that grows in its vicinity. The shadow, too, of
the pine has the effect of killing2 the grass beneath it; but
in both of these trees the foliage presents an effectual resistance to the winds, while, at the same time, the vine is destitute of such protection.3 The drops of water that fall from
the pine, the quercus, and the holm-oak are extremely heavy,
but from the cypress none fall; the shadow, too, thrown by
this last tree is extremely small, its foliage being densely
packed.4 The shadow of the fig, although widely spread, is
but light, for which reason it is allowed to be planted among
vines. The shadow of the elm is refreshing and even nutrimental to whatever it may happen to cover; though, in the
opinion of Atticus, this tree is one of the most injurious of
them all; and, indeed, I have no doubt that such may be the
case when the branches are allowed to become too long;
but at the same time I am of opinion that when they are
kept short it can be productive of no possible harm. The
plane also gives a very pleasant shade,5 though somewhat
dense: but in this case we must look more to the luxuriant
softness of the grass beneath it than the warmth of the sun;
for there is no tree that forms a more verdant couch on which
to recline.

The poplar6 gives no shade whatever, in consequence of the
incessant quivering of its leaves: while that of the alder is very
dense, but remarkably nutritive to plants. The vine affords
sufficient shade for its wants, the leaf being always in motion,
and from its repeated movement tempering the heat of the sun
with the shadow that it affords; at the same time too it
serves as an effectual protection against heavy rains. In
nearly all trees the shade is thin, where the footstalks of the
leaves are long.

This branch of knowledge is one by no means to be despised
or deserving to be placed in the lowest rank, for in the case of
every variety of plant the shade is found to act either as a
kind nurse or a harsh step-mother. There is no doubt that
the shadow of the walnut, the pine, the pitch-tree, and the fir
is poisonous to everything it may chance to light upon.

1 See B. xv. c. 24. This notion, Fée remarks, still prevails to a very
considerable extent.

2 By depriving it of the light, and the heat of the sun; but, most
probably, from no other reason.

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